Apparatus for raising submerged vessels



1951 J, E. MALLOY 2,969, 34

APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUBMERGED VESSELS Filed March 27, 1959 1 28 Fig. i

I2 IO VINVENTOR JOHN E. MALLOY MI KM ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR RAISING SUBMERGED' VESSELS John E. Malloy, 1215 W. Glenwoodg Ave'., Philadelphia,

Pa., assignor of one-third to John M; Ashe, and onethird to Stanly Ashe, Philadelphia, Pa.

Filed Mar. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 802,474- Claims. (Cl. 114-54) The present invention is directed to apparatus for raising submerged vessels.

The raising of submerged vessels. for salvage is most difficult when the vessels are large and: are lying at great depths. The problem is magnified further when the hull of the vessel has been severely damaged so that water may readily enter therein.

This invention has as an object the provision ofapparatus which enables a sunken vessel to beraised to the surface.

This invention has as another objectthe provision of an apparatus for raising submerged vessels in which manipulations alongside of the vessel in its submerged disposition are maintained at a minimal level whereby the raising of the vessel can be effected with utmost safety.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus which enables a submerged vesseltobe raised under closely regulated conditions.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts:

Figure 1 is an elevational view,-diagrammatie in character, indicating a surface salvaging vesel in positiontover a submerged vessel, preparatory to raising the-latter.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectionalview takenthrough the portion of the apparatus of the present invention which is engaged with the hull. of: the sunken vessel.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3,-3 of Figure 2. I

it is a well known physical law that when a vessel is floating in equilibrium in still water, the weight of water she displaces is exactly equal to the weight of the-vessel herself with everything she has on board. It is equally well known that if the Weightof thevessel with everything she has on board exceeds the weight of the maximum amount of water capable of beingdisplaced by the vessel, the vessel will sink. Thus, when a vessel isdamaged to such an extent that water enters her compartments until the combined weight of thevessel and the water therein exceeds the Weight of the displaced water, the vessel can no longer float in equilibrium, but will sink to the bottom surface of the body of water.

In broad terms, the present invention is related to a method of raising such a submerged vessel by reversing the process that caused her to sink. That is, by displacing all or a portion of the water contained in the vessel with air, until the combined weight of the vessel and any remaining water is .less than the weight of water displaced by the vessel, the vessel will rise to the surface of the water and achieve a stable or equilibrium position. More specifically, this invention contemplates the removal of internal water from the vessel by introducing to the interior of the vessel a plurality of buoyant articles such Patent 7 2,969,034 Patented Jan. 24, 1961 as air-filled balloons: or bladders which would serve to displace the internal water and consequently effect a reduction in vessel? weight. This phenomenon is readily explainable by virtue of the fact that a cubic foot of air weighs in the neighborhoodof 0.07 pound per cubic foot (varies according to temperature and pressure changes) whereas a cubic foot of water weighs approximately. 64 pounds. It is a practical impossibility to completely seal off the compartments of a damaged submerged vessel'and then pump out thewater, but according to theteachings of the present invention, substantially the same-resultmay be effected by filling the compartments with buoyant objects so that in spite of holes or other means ofaccess for the water to enter the compartment, the buoyant objects being s'ufliciently strong to withstand the underwater pressure will occupy most of the volume of the compartment and thus displace the water:previouslycontained therein.

As previously explained, vessels have sunk due to the excessive weight of water which has entered the vessel in some manner. Consequently, to raise the vessel without resort to dangerous and impracticable pontoon meth. ods, the water in the vessel must be displaced. I prefer to accomplish this by injecting a. plurality of air-filled objects, such as the balloons or bladders into the compartment of the vessel until the gross weight of the vessel is reduced to aweight' less than the weight of the displaced water.

The submerged vessel is designated 10, and is shown in Figure 1 as lying on the oceanbo'ttom 1-2. The salvaging vessel 14 is positioned generally above the submerged vessel 10- and is' in communication with the submerged vessel 10 through plastic-carrying conduit 16, compressed air conduits 18 and 20, hydraulic fluid conduits 22 and 24, and electric line conduit 26.

The salvaging vessel 14 is provided with control means 28 for regulating the flow of plastic material through plastic carrying conduit 16, and with control means 30 for regulating the flow of compressed air through each of compressed air conduits 18' and 20-, and control means 32 for regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid through hydraulicifluid conduits 22 and 24.

The balloon forming apparatus of the present invention is designated generally as 3-4, and is in communication with each of conduits 18, 20, 22, 24', and" 26 as will be explained below. The balloon. forming apparatus 34 is secured by a diver through an'opening in the hull ofthe submerged vessel 10, namely opening 36 in the wall 38 of submerged vessel 10. The opening 36 may be present in the wall 38 of the submerged vessel 10; or may be made by the diver, as by-the application of an explosion from a shaped charge. The term diver as used herein is meant to comprehend both-an operator utilizing a div ing suit, and also an operator. working from within adi-ving bell.

The balloon forming apparatus 34 is securedto the opening 36 by means of the clamps 40, three such clamps 4i? being shown in the illustrated embodiment. It is to be understood that the subject invention comprehends the use of a wide variety of means for securing the balloon forming apparatus 34 within a opening in the wall of the submerged" vessel. Preferably, as shown in Figure 2, the opening 36 is somewhat larger in cross-section than the cross-section of the balloon forming the apparatus 34, so that a space is provided for the discharge of water from within the submerged vessel 10.

Each of the clamps 40 may comprise a pair of pivotably secured arms42 and 43 carried on the pivot 44and operatively secured together by the bolt 46. The arm 42 maycomprise one arm of theangle 48, whose other arm 50 may be locked by the hasp 52 to the cylindrical body 54 of balloon forming apparatus 34. The angle 48 may be pivoted on the pivot 56 carried on the outer surface of the cylindrical body 54 of balloon forming apparatus 34.

The cylindrical body 54 of balloon forming apparatus 34 is provided with a cross-head 58 at its exterior. Crosshead 58 includes a bearing 60 through which the compressed air conduit 20 is received, the compressed air conduit 20 extending into the interior of the cylindrical body 54 for a major portion of its length. The compressed air conduit 20 is supported within the cylindrical body 54 by the inner wall 62 through which it passes.

A two-head piston designated generally as 64 is provided within the interior of the cylindrical body 54 and is reciprocally guided along the outer surface of compressed air conduit 20. Thus, the two-headed piston 64 includes a tubular sleeve 66 which embraces the compressed air conduit 20 and which is guided by the bushing 68 and packing 70 which are provided in the central aperture 72 in inner wall 62.

Piston 74 is received in the chamber intermediate inner wall 62 and cross-head 58. The movement of two-headed piston 64 within the cylindrical body 54 is efiected by regulating the relative pressure in the hydraulic fluid conduits 22 and 24. Piston 74 is provided with seals 76 disposed between its peripheral surface and the inner wall surface of the cylindrical body 54.

The piston 78 of two-headed piston 64 is provided in the interior portion of the cylindrical body 54 intermediate the extrusion head 80 and the inner wall 62. Piston 78 is provided with a seal 82 for securing engagement between its peripheral surface and the inner wall surface of the cylindrical body 54.

Plastic carrying conduit 16 enters through the Wall of the cylindrical body 54 by means of passageway 84. Plastic carrying conduit 16 is provided with a valve 86.

Extrusion head 80 is carried near the end of compressed air conduit 20. Extrusion head 80 defines an annular orifice between its outer edge and the juxtaposed surface of the cylindrical body 54. Within the extrusion head 80 there is provided a plurality of heating elements 88 which enable the plastic material 90 introduced from the plastic carrying conduit 16 through the passageway 84 into the chamber 92 defined by the piston 78 and the extrusion head 80 to remain plastic within the cylindrical body 54. The extrusion head 80 defines the annular orifice 94 through which the plastic material 90 is extruded in the form of a tube.

Tubular extension 96 is axially engaged with the cylindrical body 54. This may be accomplished by the provision of an inwardly projecting flange 98 which is bolted by bolts 100 to the tubular extension 96 and which is matingly engaged with a radially projecting shoulder 102 on the end of cylindrical body 54. A gear 164 is provided on the exterior of flange 98. Such gear 104 is engaged with the pinion 106 which is secured on the driven shaft 108 of air motor 110.

The operation of the apparatus of the present invention is as follows:

When the balloon forming apparatus 34 is secured within the opening 36 in the wall 38 of the submerged vessel by the clamps 40 plastic monomer is introduced through the plastic carrying conduit 16 into the chamber 92, the rate of introduction being regulated by the control means 28 on the salvaging vessel 14. Simultaneously the heating elements 88 in extrusion head 80 are heated by the flow of electric current through electric line conduit 26, raising such plastic monomer to its plasticizing temperature. The two-headed piston 64 is selectively moved Within the cylindrical body 54 by controlling the relative hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic fluid conduits 22'and 24, such control being effected by the control means 32. Simultaneously, air is passed through compressed air conduit 20. The plasticized material is extruded through the annular orifice 94 forming the extruded tube 112. The extrusion is effected by the movement of the two-headed piston 64, and specifically the piston 78 thereof, within the cylindrical body 54. When a tube 112 of sufiicient length is produced, control means 30 energizes the air motor 110 and eflects rotation of the tubular extension 96 producing a twisting of the tube 112 and a sealing of one end thereof, as shown at 114. This scaling is coordinated with the movement of the twoheaded piston 64.

The pressure within the sealed off tubes 112 may be selectively regulated by controlling the air pressure within compressed air conduit 20 so as to accommodate to different underwater pressures. Thus, balloons may be formed while the submerged vessel 10 is being raised, with the air pressure within the formed balloons being reduced as the vessel rises so as to prevent popping of the balloons.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for raising a submerged vessel including means for forming and inflating a series of connected balloons, means for clamping said balloon forming means directly within an opening in the side of the submerged vessel, and means for pushing a series of inflated balloons from said balloon forming means into the interior of the submerged vessel.

2. Apparatus for raising a submerged vessel including means for forming and inflating balloons, means for clamping said balloon forming means directly within an opening in the side of the submerged vessel, and means for pushing a series of inflated balloons from said balloon forming means into the interior of the submerged vessel, said balloon forming means comprises an extruder for plastics, an extrusion head containing an annular orifice, means for injecting air into plastic material extruded through said annular orifice so as to inflate the same, and means for sealing each shaped inflated balloon.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which the means for sealing each shaped inflated balloon comprises means for rotating a tube into which plastic material has been extruded from the extrusion head of the extruder.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 in which the means for injecting air into the balloons shaped by the extruder comprises a conduit passing through the longitudinal axis of the extruder.

5. In an apparatus for raising a submerged vessel having an opening in a side thereof, the improvement comprising a first means for forming a tube and inflating said tube into a balloon, said first means being fixedly secured directly to said vessel within said opening, said first means cooperating with said vessel to define a passage between the interior of said vessel and the surrounding water so that water within said vessel interior may flow out of said vessel interior, and a second means operatively associated with said first means for pushing a tube formed and inflated into a balloon by said first means into the interior of said vessel, whereby said balloon displaces the water within said interior of said vessel thereby decreasing the weight of said vessel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,768,601 Davis Oct. 20, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS H 21,596 Germany Apr. 5, 1956 

